Rogue cops not immune from suit –Cayetano

Cayetano made this reassurance to Filipinos to stress that there is no “police immunity” as reports claimed and that the government is doing its part to make sure that erring cops are punished. (Photo: Philippine News Agency)

MANILA–If evidence shows that a police officer is involved in an extrajudicial killing, a case will be filed against him, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday told the Filipino community in Geneva, Switzerland.

Cayetano made this reassurance to Filipinos to stress that there is no “police immunity” as reports claimed and that the government is doing its part to make sure that erring cops are punished.

He is currently in Geneva to lead a 16-member Philippine delegation tasked to attend the Universal Periodic Review on human rights where the states present their human rights records to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The Universal Periodic Review happens every three to four years. The last Universal Periodic Review (UPR) participated by the Philippines was in 2012.

“Anyone killed by the police is investigated. Although the police operations were presumed legitimate, the presumption is not conclusive,” Cayetano said in a statement to the Filipino community.

“If evidence shows that there is (EJK) extrajudicial killing, kakasuhan po ang mga alagad ng batas (cases will be filed against them under the law),” he added.

He said that the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Services (PNP-IAS), the PNP’s watchdog agency, continues to fulfill its function of investigating rogue cops and filing them administrative or criminal charges against them.

Moreover, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and the PNP also have existing policies and guidelines to discipline their personnel and officials.

The NAPOLCOM issued MC No. 2016-002 dated March 7, 2016 revising the uniform rules of procedures before the administrative disciplinary authorities and the PNP-IAS.